Vehicle direction indicator



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Nov. 27, 19.23 @www R1 L ELL-IS VEHQLE DIiBEO'rION INDICATOR Filed Feb. zo. 1922 2 sheets-shag@ 2 Patented Nov. 2'?, i923.

UhllTE Sli'llES ROBERT J. ELLS, OF LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,832.

To all whom t may concern.'

Bc it known that l, Roniinr J. ELLIS, a

citizen of the United States residine- Vat ,'r C Los Angeles, in the county of laos Angeles State of California, have invented new and useful inprovements in Vehicle Birection indicators, of which the 'following is a specification.

My invention relates to a vehicle direction signal, the principal objects of my invention being to provide a relatively simple, iractical and ellicient signaling apparatus that is located at a point on the body of the vehicle where it is readily visible to drivers of vehicles to the rear of the vehicle on wiich the direction indicator is located; to provide relatively simple and effective means for actuating the movable part of the signal from a point convenient to the driverls seat, for instance, from the dash of the vehicle or from means located on the steering` post or column just below 'the steering wheel; and2 further, to provide a vehicle direction indicating device that may be easily and cheaply produced and installed.

A further object of my invent-ion is to provide an audible signaling device that is associated with the direction indicator and which will serve to give notice in the nature of an audible signal to the driver of the vehicle that the operating handle of the mechanism has been shifted so as to move the operating parts of the mechanism in the housing on the rear of the vehicle into signaling position, thus eliminating` the possibility of the parts being left in such position through oversightof the driver.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, my inwntion consists in the features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafte: more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear elevational view of a motor vehicle showing the housing that forms a part or" my improved direction signal in position upon said vehicle; l

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic viewof the operating connection between the housing that is located on the rear of the vehicle and the manually operative parts that are located adjacent to the drivers seat;

Figure 3 is a vertical 'section taken lei'igthwise through the center of the housing of the indicator, which housing' is located on the rear of a vehicle;

an d

Figure fl is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 4 of Fig. 8;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the steering post of a vehicle showing the manually operable parts of the direction indicator in position thereupon;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross section talren approximately on the line 7-7 or" Figure 6 showing diagrammatically the electrical connections from certain parts of the actuating mechanism to an audible signal, such as a buzzer;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figures 9, l0 and 1l are elevational view," of the rotarymember that is located in the housing at the rear of the vehicle and which bears various direction designations;

Figures l2 and 13 are vertical sections taken through the housing of modified forms of the indicator;

Figure is an elevational view of a modiiicd form of the housing that contains the movable direction 'indicia bearing member and which forms a part of my improved direction indicator.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates an elongated housing, preferably constructed of sheet metal, the rear wall of which is formed of a section l1 of transparent material, preferably glass. This housing is located on the rear portion of a motor vehicle, preferably on the rail R that extends around the top of the body of the vehicle, and thus said housing is in a posilion where it may be readily observed. This housing may be secured to the body of the vehicle in any suitable manner and the end portions of said housing are preferably pointed, after the manner of arrow heads, as cesignated by the numeral l2.

Located in the ends of the housing' l0 are vertically disposed brackets 13, in which are formed bearings 14 for pintles l5, which latter are seated in the ends of a rotary member 16. This rotary member is preferably constructed of wood or sheet metal, and is square or non-circular in cross section, in order to-provide a plurality of faces on which may be painted or printed indicia relating to the operation and movements of a. vehicle; for instance, asV illustrated in Figures 9, l() and ll, certain of the faces on the rotary member 16 may have painted or printed thereupon the words Turning right, Turning left and Stop, while another one of' the taces of said member may have printed or painted thereupon the words Safety first, which latter face is normally exposed through the transparent rear wall 11 of the housing.

Formed at the center of the rotary member 16 is a relatively narrow groove 17, thus forming a relatively short central porn tion 18 upon which is adapted to wind a cord or cable that is utilized tor rotating the member 16 so as to expose the different Yfaces thereof through the transparent rear wall of the housing.

rEhe bottom of the housing` 10 is provided at its center and adjacent to its front edge with a depression 19 in which is located a concave reflector 20 and positioned within said reflector is a small electric lamp 21 that may receive current from a suitable source of supply, for instance, the usual storage battery that is associated with the lighting and ignition system of the motor vehicle. This lamp and reflector provides means tor illuminating the front or exposed face or" the rotary member 16. It desired, the conductors to lamp 21 may lead and be connected to the conductors that are connected to the lamp within the usual tail light T.

Wound upon the cylindrical portion 18 of the rotary member .16 is a portion of a cord or cable 22 'that is utilized tor rotating said member from one signaling position to another and from said cylindrical portion 18 the portions oit said cord or cable passV over suitably located pulleys 23 through an opening 24 that is formed in the body of the vehicle immediately to the rear of housing 10 and from said opening the sections ot cord or cable entend downwardly through a tubular member 25 to a suitable point on the under side ot the body of the vehicle and thence ili'orwardly beneath said vehicle, and the sections of said cord or UJI cable are supported by iitably located grooved wheels or pulleys 6A The means utilized i'or shitting the cord. or cable to ime part rotary movement to member 16 may be located at any point 'convenient to the hand of the driver of the vehicle, for instance, on the dash or upon the steering post or column immediately vbeneath the steering wheel, as illustrated in Figure 5. The particular :torm oit manually operable actuating means in,- cludes a bracket 27 that is secured in any suitable manner to the steering post l) a short distance below the steering wheel lV, and secured to and projecting outwardly from the upper portion ot said bracket lis a disk 28 that has 'formed in its center a bearing 29 for a short rotatably arranged shaft BO.. The lower portion of this shaft carries a drum 31 upon which is wound a portion ot the cable 22, and from said drum said cable passes around grooved pulleys 32 that are journaled in brackets that depend from the rear portion ot the disk 28 and from said pulleys the sections ot cable pass downwardly through the floor of the vehicle and thence rearwardly over and around the supporting pulleys 26.

Mounted so as to rotate with and slide lengthwise upon the upper portion ot shaft 8O is the hub ot' a short handle 88, and interposed between the top or the hub portion of said handle and a nut 311 that is seated on the top ot shaft is an expansive spring 85. Depending from the handle 33 is a leg or linger 86 that is adapted to engage in any one ot a series ot' recesses such as 37 that are formed in the top ot disk 28, thereby yieldingly retaining the handle in its shifted position. Appearing on the surface of disk 28 adjacent to one ot these recesses are the letters S E, the same correspond ing to the words cSafety first on the rotary member 16, and the cord or cable 22 that leads from the drum 81 to the rotary member 16 is arranged so that when linger 86 occupies the recess marked S F. the inember 16 occupies a position so that the words Safety irst are visible through the transparent rear wall of the housing. The recess on the lett hand portion of the disk 28 is marked L, and when handle 88 is turned toward the lett hand so that finger 86 rests in this recess the member 16 is turned so that the words Turning left appear' through the transparent rear wall or' the housing. The recess on the right hand portion of the disk 28 is marked R to correspond with the words Turning right on the member 16, and the recess on the rear portion or' disk 28 is marl-:ed S to correspond with the designation Stop on the member 16. Gbviously, the arrangement and markings of the recesses 87 may be vvaried from those herein shown and described, but it is essential that the arrangement and connections between the drum 81 and member 16 be such that the letters or designations on the disk 28 provide an indication to show to the operator that member 16 is rotated so as to show certain direction indici-r. when the handle 33 is turned to a corresponding position on disk 28.

The spring is effective in maintaining the handle 38 in its shifted position and at the same time permits the handle to rise slightly when the finger 36 rides out of one ot the depressions 37. Seated in the under side of disk 28 is a ring 38 of insulation in which is seated an arcuate contact member 39, the same lbeing arranged so that the space between its ends is located beneath the depression 437 that is marked SF and in which the finger 36 carried by handle 33 normally rests. Secured to and insulated from shaft 30 and positioned beneath disk 28 is a ring 40 to Which is connected a spring arm 41, the free end of Which is adapted to ear against the under face of ring 38 of insulation and against the under face of contact member 39. rihis arm 41 occupies a position directly beneath handle 33 so that when the latter is in its normal position with finger 36 resting in recess 37 marked SF, the free end of arm 41 bears against ring 38 between the ends of contact ring 39.

A. conductor 42 leads from ring 39 to an audible signal 43, such as a buzzer, and leading from the latter to a battery 44 and from the latter to arm 41 is a conductor 45- By virtue of the mechanism just described, the circuit to buzzer 43 will be closed Whenever handle 33 is shiftedin either' direction a sufficient distance to move arm 41 into contact with member 39, and thus after the signal has been actuated the buzzer Will continue to give an audible signal to the driver that the movable parts of the signal are in indicating position.

To yieldingly retain the rotary member 16 in its normal and shifted positions one or more fiat springs, such as 46, may be arranged Within the housing 10 With their free endsbearing against the flat faces of said rotary member, which springs prevent the rotary member from vibrating as a result of the travel of the vehicle over rough portions of the roadway. if for any rea.- son the cord or cable 26 becomes inoperative or should break While the car is in service the rotary member 16 Will be immediately returned to its normal position or in position to display the Words Safety first through the transparent rear Wall of the housing, such action being accomplished by a spiralspring 47 that is arranged on one of the pintles 15, one end of said spring being secured to said pintle and the opposite end of said spring' being secured to the end of the member 16.

ln the modified construction illustrated in Figure 12, the direction indicia may appear on the surface of a curtain-like member-(L8 that isadapted to Wind onto and un Wind from any ordinary spring-actuated roller 49 of the Hartshorne type, which cur tain is unwvound from said roller by a pulling movement imparted to a cord or cable 50. which latter leads to the manually operablemeans located on the vehicle dash or on the steering post.

ln the modified construction illustrated in Figure 13, the direction indicia appear on the face of an endless flexible member 51. which is mounted upon a pair of rollers 52, one or both of Which may be spring-actuated and one of said rollers being rotated by pulling movement upon a cord or cable 53 that is connected to the axis of said roller.

While l have shown and described the housing of my improved vehicle signal as being positioned on the rear portion of the body of the vehicle, it Will be understood that said housing may be located on the front portion of the vehicle or upon either one of the front or rear fenders, and, further, that in some instances it may be desirable to locate a housing at both front and rear of the vehicle, and the rotary members in said housing are simultaneously actuated by the manually operated mechanism. Further, it may be found desirable to utilize but a single pull cord or cable for the operation of lthe rotary indicia bearing member, and when a single cord is used the manually operable means may include a lever or knob that is mounted so as to be pulled to different positions of rest toward or away from the vehicle driver.

The signal device 43 is described as being in the form of a buzzer, but other forms of signaling devices, for instance, a bell or a lamp, may be utilized for attracting the attention of the driver to the fact that the rotary member Within the housing is in. signaling position.

My invention, With slight modifications, may be advantageously used on street, interurban and railway cars for designating streets, stopping points and stations.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 14, a small housing 55 is arranged on the lower central portion of housing 10 and arranged in the front Wall of said housing 55' is a colored lens 56. This lens is disposed directly in front of lamp 21, and the latter, when lighted, combines with the lens 56 in forming aftail light for the vehicle and at the same time the rays of light that project upwardly from the lamp serve to illuminate the displayed face of the indicia bearing member Within the housing 10. If desired, a rectangular frame 57 may depend from housing 55,` Which depending frame may receive the vehicle license plate'.

A vehicle direction indicator ofmy im proved construction is comparatively simple, maybe easily and cheaply produced, is positive in action, under the ready control of the driver of the vehicle, and is very effective in performing its intended functions.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved vehicle direction indicator may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claimsl claim as my invention:

1. A direction signal comprising a casing having a transparent side, a plurality of rotatably sustained reels in the casing, means for urging one of the reels to a delinite position, a web movable over the reels and having signaling indicia thereon adapted to be exposed through the transparent side, and means for actuating the Web against the action of said urging means.

2. A direction signal comprising a casing having a transparent plate removably mounted on the casing, brackets Within the casing having slots closed at their outer ends by said plate, a signaling member within the casing, and stub shafts on the ends of the member and journaled in said slots. 4

. 3. A direction signal comprising a casing having a transparent plate removably mounted on the casing, brackets Within the casinghaving slots closed at their outer ends by said plate, a signaling member Within the casing, stub shafts on the ends et the member and journaled in said slots,

said member being` :termed with a channelY intermediate its ends, and means engaging the channel tor eil'ecting rotation ot the member.

4t. A direction signal comprising a casing having a transparent plate removablyY mounted on the casing, brackets Within the casing having` slots closed at their outer ends by said plate, a signaling member Within the casing, stub shafts on the ends of the member and journaled in said slots, springs associated with the brackets and member for urging the member to a definite position, means for latching the member in an adjusted position and against the action et said springs, and means for rotating the member ag dinst the action et said latching means and said springs.

5. A direction indicator comprising a casing, a signal member rotatably mounted in the casing, said member having a plurality o1"- angularly disposed tacos bearing signaiing indicia, coiled springs for normally urging the member te a definite signaling position, a leaf spring secured to the casing` and engaging the member for latching the latter in any et' its adjusted positions and against the action of said springs, and flexible means engaging the member for rotating the latter from a remote point.

G. A direction signal comprising a casing having` a transparent side, a pair ot reels rotatably sustained in the casing, a spring for urging one of the reels to a definite position, a Web movable from one reel to the other, said Web having signaling indicia thereon adapted to be exposed through the transparent side, and a flexible member for actuating the ivebagainst the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT J. Ennis. 

